Jamie Briggs (Mayo, Liberal Party, Chairman of the Scrutiny of Government Waste Committee) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, in writing, on 3 March 2011:

(1) How many personal staff are employed by the Minister.

(2) What is the (a) total cost, and (b) breakdown of costs, of all capital works and acquisitions in the Minister's private office since 3 December 2007.

Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Finance and Deregulation has supplied the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

(1) The employment of staff under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 is administered by the Department of Finance and Deregulation (Finance). On

22 February 2011, the Department tabled with the Senate Finance and Administration Committee, a list of Government Personal Staff Positions as at 1 February 2011.

(2) The cost of capital works and acquisitions for ministers’ offices is shared by the Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS), Finance and home departments in line with Appendix 2 of Supporting Ministers, Upholding the Values.

The Special Minister of State will accordingly respond on behalf of all ministers in respect of costs incurred by DPS and Finance.

I am advised that the cost incurred by the Finance home department area is:

(a) $17,893.92

(b) Capital Works—$3,247.40; Acquisitions—$14,646.52

The Minister for Finance and Deregulation was appointed on 14 September 2010. As such, no data is provided for the period prior to this date.